Treasure in Heaven

^{I Timothy
17} Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. ¹⁸ Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. ¹⁹ In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
Matthew 6
¹⁹  “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  (spoken by Jesus)

As I read an article regarding a pastor's thoughts regarding the passage in Matthew, I realized he was simply making comparison statements of what others thought, neither indicating agreement nor disagreement.  Then something sparked inside me and made me become very attentive inwardly.  That warm feeling you get when you know the Lord is speaking directly to your heart and you need to listen came over me.

My heart had questioned, "Just what are these treasures in heaven?  (Besides crowns)

 

• Crown of Righteousness 2 Tim. 4:8 To all who have kept the faith and longed and loved for His return
• Crown of Rejoicing 1Thes. 2:19 To all who have helped bring others to Christ
• Crown of Life James 1:12 To all who endure temptation & are faithful through trials and to those that love Him
• Crown of glory 1 Peter 5:1-4  To all that serve and shepherd God’s people
• The imperishable or eternal crown 1 Cor. 9:25 To those who have had self-control in all things and subdued the old sinful nature.

We evidently have a storehouse of some sort in heaven, or Jesus would not have spoken of it.  These rewards just well may be more than I had ever really considered before.  It always amazes me that God can speak to our heart without using actual words.
It hit me that I suddenly was understanding a portion of this storehouse that I hadn't before.  True treasure is found in Jesus, so the more we get to know Him, the greater the reward.  (That part I knew.)  Our storehouse fills up with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  As it fills we have it to make "withdrawals" from when needed.  The catch is, if we are not filling our storehouse, we will not have anything to spare. 

How do we fill it?  By partaking of the fruit given us by the Spirit at salvation.  It's there, we just have to put it to use.  If we do not, it doesn't grow.  I now wonder if this is what Jesus was talking about with the master giving talents parable.  When we invest our time and energy in service, our fruit is multiplied, just as planting, watering, and caring for fruit trees produces more fruit than planting and forgetting about it. 

Look at the parable of the fig tree.  If it doesn't produce fruit, it withers away.  There are many withering people out there.  They want to go to heaven, but they don't want to follow Jesus.  We cannot have it both ways.  Following Jesus isn't easy, neither is it difficult once you do it a while.  As a matter of fact, the more you do it, the more you want to do it.  If we could simply remember the simple statement Jesus gave us to help us on our way: You reap what you sow.  So may we sow the Fruit of the Spirit and reap it in harvest and have a storehouse running over!!